Elastic laces



y 1968 l. B. PALMAY ET AL 3,382,546

ELASTIC LACES Filed May 25, 1966 INVENTORS /L0/VA BOSZ/VA) PALMAY STEVEN K/SH BY aamwly ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,382,546 ELASTIC LACES Ilona Bosznay Palmay, 9623 Parkview Ave. 44125, an

Steven Kish, 2908 E. 112th St. 44104, both of Cleveland, Ohio Filed May 25, 1966, Ser. No. 552,848 Claims. (CI. 24-90) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elastic lace of rubber-like material including a longitudinally extending central portion and integral T-shaped ends extending longitudinally in the plane of the central portion, wherein one of the ends has a thin, narrow extension projecting in a direction longitudinally outward ly from the central section.

This invention relates generally, as indicated, to elastic laces especially of the type which are adapted to be used for securing shoes on the feet of the wearer.

The use of elastic cords as shoe laces with integral barbs or enlargements on the ends of the cords for anchoring the cords against the back of the shoe eyelets is old and well known. However, considerable difiiculty may be encountered when trying to insert such enlargements through the shoe eyelets, especially for children or invalids, since the enlargements must first usually be folded before they will pass through the eyelets and, moreover, the enlargements are generally quite short requiring them to be pushed completely through the eyelets, rather than pulled therethrough.

It is accordingly a principal object, of this invention to provide an elastic lace with a novel integral anchoring means on the ends of the lace including a narrow extension which facilitates insertion through a small opening such as may be found in a shoe eyelet or button.

Another object is to provide a plurality of such elastic laces in the form of short lengths of resilient material, one lace for each pair of shoe eyelets, with T-shaped ends and a pointed, narrow extension on one of the ends of the T to facilitate insertion through the eyelets and grasping for pulling of such ends through the eyelets.

Another object is to provide such elastic laces with an arched central portion which conforms to the curvature of the instep of the shoe to provide greater comfort to the wearer.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In such annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe of conventional type with a plurality of elastic laces constructed in accordance with this invention shown extending between each pair of shoe eyelets;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the elastic laces of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively side elevation and bottom plan views of such elastic lace;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the manner in which such elastic lace may be used for connecting a pair of buttons or the like together; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through the buttons of FIG. 5 taken on the plane of the line 6-6 thereof, with the material of a coat or the like shown in phantom lines between such buttons and the elastic lace interconnecting such buttons through apertures in the coat.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a preferred form of elastic lace in accordance with this invention is generally indicated at 1 and comprises a central portion 2 of a suitable rubber or rubber-like material with integral anchoring means 3 at the ends of the central portion 2 preferably in the form of a T 4. The central portion 2 may be of rectangular cross section as shown or have a circular cross section, and may be of any length desired, even sufficient to pass through all of the eyelets of a shoe or boot. However, it is preferred that the central portion 2 be relatively short for extension only between a pair of shoe eyelets 7 and that it be arched to conform to the curvature of the instep 8 of a shoe 9, whereby when the elastic laces 1 are properly inserted through the pairs of eyelets 7 as in FIG. 1, the anchoring means 3 will assume a flat position against the inner surface of the shoe with no discomfort to the wearer.

To facilitate insertion of the anchoring means 3 through the eyelets 7, the outer end 10 of each T 4 is provided with an extension 11 which is considerably longer than the inner end 12 and is progressively narrower and thinner, whereby such extension 11 may be readily inserted through an eyelet 7 and grasped for pulling of the anchoring means 3 through the eyelet. While both such anchoring means 3 are shown provided with elongated extensions 11, it should be understood that only one such extension need be provided for each elastic lace 1, in which case the extension 11 would first be passed through one of the eyelets 7 of each pair from the inside out for pulling of the other anchoring means 3 up against the inside of the eyelet and then inserted through the other eyelet for that pair from the outsidein for pulling that anchoring means 3 through the eyelet.

The elastic laces 1, although easy to assemble, are difiicult to remove but may be left in the shoes when putting them on or taking them off due to the resiliency of the laces, and of course no tying of the laces is required, .thus making them ideal for childrens or invalids shoes. Moreover, they are equally suited for adults shoes, and are especiallyuseful for boots that have a great many eyelets which ordinarily require a considerable amount of time to lace.

When properly installed, the elongated extensions 11 of the laces 1 are concealed by the shoes and they are of no discomfort to the wearer due to the manner in which they lie flat against the inner surface of the shoes and their thinness and resiliency. However, if desired once the anchoring means 3 is pulled through the eyelets 7, the elongated extensions 11 may be cut off to about the length of the inner ends 12 of the anchoring means.

Although the elastic laces 1 are primarily designed to be used as shoe laces, they may have other uses as well, such as for securing a button 15 to a coat 16 or the like as by passing the anchoring means 3 through aligned apertures 17, 18 in the button 15 and coat 16 and then through similar apertures 19 in a backup button 20 or the like.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

We therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. An elastic lace comprising a length of rubber-like material having a longitudinally extending central portion and integral T-shaped ends extending longitudinally in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said central portion, one of said T-shaped ends having a thin, narrow extension projecting in a direction longitudinally outwardly from said-central portion to permit easy insertion of said extension through a small opening such as may be found in a shoe eyelet and the like and grasping said extension for pulling said one end through such opening.

2. The elastic lace of claim 1 wherein said extension is progressively narrower and thinner toward its free end further to facilitate insertion through a small opening.

3. The elastic lace of claim 1 wherein there is a thin narrow extension projecting in a direction longitudinally outwardly from both of said T-shaped ends.

4. The elastic lace of claim 1 wherein said elastic lace is relatively short for extension only between a pair of shoe eyelets and the like, and said lace between its ends is arched to conform to the curvature of the instep of a shoe, whereby when the ends of said elastic lace are inserted through such eyelets, said ends will assume a flat position against the inner surface of the shoe, said one T-shaped end having an additional extension projecting longitudinally inwardly, said additional extension being relatively short compared to said longitudinally outwardly projecting extension.

Jar-582,546.,

5. In combination, an elastic lace and two buttons, said lace securing one of said buttons to the other on opposite sides of a fabric or the like, said elastic lace comprising a length of rubber-like material having a longitudinally extending central portion and integral T-shaped ends extending longitudinally in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said central portion, one of said T-shaped ends having a thin, narrow extension projecting in a direction longitudinally outwardly from said central portion to permit insertion of said extension through aligned openings in said buttons and fabric and grasping said extension for pulling said one end through said aligned openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,531,461 3/1925 Uyeda 24-73 1,772,238 8/1930 Bonne 2473 X 1,898,225 2/1933 Szabo 2473.9 X 2,289,225 7/1942 Tonai 2473.90 X

OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner. 

